The Episcopal Church and Islam

On November 14, 2014, the National Cathedral in Washington D.C., which is part of the Episcopal Church of America, hosted a full-fledged Islamic service. It was co-sponsored by Muslim groups with links to terrorism such as the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA). The Muslims were kept out of view of crosses, since they are not allowed to pray “in view of sacred symbols alien to their faith” (“National Cathedral Holds Friday Muslim Prayers,” Voice of America, Nov. 14, 2014). The liberal Episcopal Church has demonstrated that it views Muslims more favorably than traditional Episcopal congregations that hold to the inerrancy of Scripture. Larry Provost reported the following: “In Binghamton, New York the Church of the Good Shepherd broke away from the Episcopal Diocese of Central New York over the issues of Biblical inerrancy. The Church of the Good Shepherd continued to thrive despite not being able to keep the church property they had once worshiped on. After some time the Episcopal Diocese of Central New York put the church property in question up for sale. The Church of the Good Shepherd was interested in buying their old property and offered the Diocese of New York $150,000 dollars for the property. The Episcopal Church refused to sell the property to the Church of the Good Shepherd. Instead they sold it to a Muslim group. The Muslim group offered only $50,000 dollars for the property; $100,000 less than the Church of the Good Shepherd offered. The Episcopal Church was not done; a clause was added that the property could not be sold to the Church of the Good Shepherd in the future. Apparently the Bible believing Church of the Good Shepherd is more offensive to the Episcopal Church than Islam. Congregations that choose to remain with the Episcopal Church, often tied to our national soul, tend to shun the whole Bible yet have a particular fondness for accommodating Islam” (“Islamic Services in National Cathedral,” Townhall.com, Nov. 14, 2014). The National Cathedral also hosts “same sex marriage” ceremonies, and in June a “transgendered” Episcopal priest preached there in recognition of gay pride month.

(Friday Church News Notes, November 21, 2014, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143)

---